Tahimik akong napatingin sa mansyon kong palayo na ng palayo sa paningin ko, hanggang sa hindi ko na nga 'to nakita.
"Binibini..?"
Napatingin ako kay Peyton na kasama ko ngayon, at naglabas nalang ako ng isang maliit na ngiti.
"We'll be fine." Ani ko sa kanya, pero hindi ko alam kung siya ba yung sinasabihan ko o yung sarili ko.
And now, I really am on my way to the palace.
When I reached the palace gates, si Peyton na muna ang unang bumaba at kinausap yung mga gwardiyang nakabantay doon. It was probably about where I was about to go. Nung nakuha naman niya yung impormasyon na kailangan niya, sinundo na niya ako na nasa loob ng karwahe.
Binuksan niya yung pinto at inalalayan ako pababa.
At saka na kami pumasok sa loob ng palasyo.
We rode in a different carriage that led the way to a garden. Hindi ko na alam kung saang parte ng palasyo 'to. Pero hinayaan ko nalang ulit si Peyton na alalayaan ako para makababa ako sa sinakyan namin.
May araw pa rin naman at napakaaliwalas tignan nung garden kasi open-garden 'to. Not like the greenhouse I first visited with Lionel.
But why does it feel so cold?
May mga malalaking parasol na nakabukas sa gitna ng garden, at sa ilalim nito ay may table na punong puno ng iba't-ibang desserts na sa tingin palang ay mukhang masarap na.
And sitting on that table.. were two people.
One should be the empress. The sole individual who invited me for this torture, pero hindi ko makilala kung sino yung isa. It was a woman, judging from the clothes alone.
Dahan dahan akong naglakad papunta doon sa pwesto nila, at sinundan ako ni Peyton habang pinapayungan ako.
Nung nakarating na ako sa ilalim ng parasol, I gave curtsy to the empress.
"Greetings, your majesty. I am Ashina Aelis Eusebia, and I thank you for your invitation toda—" Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nung maayos ko nang nakita kung sino yung katabi ng emperatris.
There was no mistake when I looked into her purple eyes.
It was.. Ophelia.
I was stunned for a moment, at itinago ko nalang yung gulat ko sa pagyuko ko sa harap ng emperatris.
"Looks like your story was true. You have met the lady before." Nang maitaas ko yung ulo ko, agad namang kinausap ng emperatris si Ophelia. At maayos ko nang nakita yung mukha niya.
Unlike Lionel, whose hair was in an ethereal color of white, the empress had blood red that was tied into a low-bun. Her crown that was paired with her amber-colored eyes made her exude a plethora of elegance.
BINABASA MO ANG
Live as a Villainess
FantasyAshina Aelis Eusebia is a daughter of a duke. She lived her life as the richest duke's daughter lavishly, arrogantly, and shamelessly. And it was her destiny to die at the hands of the crown prince for the attempted assassination of his fiancee. As...